Summary
Prolific composer Natalie Holt had a full score created for the tragically canceledBatgirlmovie. So, it would be understandable if she harbors some animosity about the affair. Now, she’s finally spoken out about her feelings about the cancelation and her score, and it seems she’s taken a unique approach to dealing with it all.
Holt may currently be best known for her memorably surreal soundtrack for Marvel Studios' Disney Plus seriesLoki. But what could have been an equally impactful work of hers on the DC side of things has been lost since the film was scrapped in the 11th hour. Shortly afterBatgirlwas axed, she spoke aboutthe disappointingBatgirlcancelationand how it affected her. But a year later, things have changed a bit.
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Speaking withThe Hollywood Reporter, Holt revealed that she hasn’t even revisited herBatgirlscore since the cancelation. Despite how many composers will repurpose unused material like this into other scores and soundtracks, she said, “I just haven’t listened back to it.” But it’s not out of disappointment in her work or the experience. It seems to be the exact opposite, as she still reminisces about the people she worked with and what she accomplished. That even included using Danny Elfman’s theme from 1989’sBatmanwith his blessing.
Do you know what? I just haven’t listened back to it. So many things happened last year, and I needed a bit of time. I had some time this summer to reflect on where I want to go and also process the experiences I’ve been through creatively, but I haven’t really listened back to it yet. So ask me next year, maybe. (Laughs.) I’ve just put it away and it feels sad. I was really fond of that project, and I’d been working on it for a year with [directors] Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. I also got to meet Danny Elfman, who gave me approval to work with his theme fromBatman(1989). So it’s just sad, and I also really wanted to do a film. I haven’t really had a big film to work on yet, so hopefully that day will come soon.
The mention ofThe Nightmare Before Christmascomposer Elfman perhaps adds even more tragedy to the whole situation, as his theme from Tim Burton’s 1989Batmanfilm remains one of the most iconic in the character’s history. It would have had one heck of an impact to see Michael Keaton as Batman backed by that music again. That’s not to mention Holt’s lament on how this would have been her big break into film after spending so much time in the TV realm. There are a lot of regrets swirling about this film, and that’s without even getting to how fans won’t get to seeBrendan Fraser’s reportedly Oscar-worthy performance as Firefly inBatgirl.
It’s almost ironic that Holt’s arguably best-known work is fromLoki. That’s not to say the show or her score is bad. The opposite is very much true on both counts. But many have argued thatmost MCU shows on Disney Plus could have been movies. So if the studio had indeed elected to go that route, Holt would have likely gotten her wish for a movie to score quite some time ago.
Holt has worked onLoki,Obi-Wan Kenobi, and even in the music department of the firstPaddingtonmovie. Along with a slew of other prominent projects and a respectable number of awards, that would probably be enough for anybody. But it’s hard to look at what might have been sometimes. Here’s hoping she gets that big movie break she deserves soon.
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